Unconsolable

The outcome of this week's show has left me in a state. What in THE hell?

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I'm sitting in my office amidst the spoils of AWP. I definitely need to clean up. Books everywhere!

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I'm looking forward to having an actual break from travel for awhile. I've travelled somewhere for two weeks straight. I think it's wreaked havoc on my immune system. I wonder if Airborne really works. I know it's just preventative, just wondering.

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Oh by the way, last Tuesday was my birthday.

AWP Aftermath

Whew. The folks who left Friday had the right idea. While I love attending AWP and seeing old friends, making new friends, and being surrounded by lovers of words, I get burned out rather quickly.

Overall, I had a great time. I saw lots of bloggers (Paul Guest, you are everywhere. Mary Biddinger, you're as cute as bunny slippers. C. Dale Young, I want a Green Lantern T-shirt now).

I spent most of the time semi-trapped by the book fair, mostly because they structured the damn thing like a medieval city. I kept having to circle to find the things I wanted. The bookfair was also extremely hot. I think the AC wasn't working. At one point, the air smelled like something was burning.

I didn't attend a lot of panels this year. I either had a table time conflict with a panel or I had to meet someone for coffee/breakfast/lunch/dinner.

I'll write more soon, but for now, if I didn't say goodbye to you last night, sorry. I went to bed very very early.

I have some news

. . . which I wish I could share. I'll say this much: the news is good.

I suck. Believe me, you'll be happy when you hear about it.

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We have completely gutted the master bathroom. I've learned a few new things 'bout plumbing, too. I've learned lots of things about wax toilet rings, toilet flanges, couplings, and L joints.

Meredith took great pleasure in tearing down the box for the flourescent light. She also rejoiced as she peeled back the nasty orange carpet. Like I said, we had carpet in our master bathroom. That issue has been remedied.

Now we've got to figure out why the shower's still leaking before we sand blast the shell. Sorry to be boring you with homeowner crap. It's been on my mind lately.

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There's something about getting a manuscript picked up that stimulates new creativity. It's almost like you try to fill the void vacated by that previous obsession. This past year after hearing about my 2nd manuscript, I got fired up about a new project and wrote lots of newer pieces. I'm only talking 'bout this now 'cause I just did some paper work for a grant I'm applying for. Anyway, all told, this new project has 'bout twelve poems so far. More will come. I can feel them churning in the back of my brain.

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I can't wait for AWP!